Vulnerable families
and challenging
parents.
A balancing act:
leading and
succeeding in areas of
high deprivation
Binks Neate-Evans, Headteacher, West Earlham Infant and Nursery School, Norwich.
Achieved outstanding in October 2017
Vulnerable families and challenging parents balancing act:
leading and succeeding in areas of high deprivation
Binks Neate-Evans, HeadteacherWest Earlham Infant And Nursery
WHO AM I TO SAY? MY PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL NARRATIVE ….. IT MATTERS!
OUR SCHOOL
SOME OF THE REAL CHALLENGES….
GROUND ZERO
Terry Wogan
‘Is it me?’
POWER TO CHANGE
Couldn’t
• change law on parental rights
• undo parent’s own experience
of school
• stop inappropriate relationships
• control substance misuse
• predict what people said about
school/me
Could
• provide secure base
• create strong skilled team
• communicate what we would
and wouldn’t accept from
families
• clarity share our aims and
values
• work with other agencies
COMMUNICATING OUR CULTURE
• Children come first
• Relationships matter a lot
• Reading is a right not a choice
• What would and wouldn’t be accepted
• Support not judgment
• Difficult conversations
MY SCHOOL ….. MY RULES
GOOD COMMUNICATION WINS
WHAT DO WE DO?
• always prioritise duty of care to
children
• always welcome families
• listen A LOT!
• have exceptionally robust CP
arrangements and training
• dedicated full time family
support worker
• dedicated inclusion team
• rigorously monitor attendance
• adapt and personalise
provision for children to meet
their needs
• work with wide range of
agencies - almost daily
• provide psychological CPD for
leaders and staff
• have the highest standard of
teaching
• have high profile in public
areas with families
• commission Speech Therapist
and psychological services.
WHAT DO WE DO? CONT…
• provide rich range of experiences to develop the whole child
• have highly consistent approach to teaching of reading
• using funding including pupil premium to best effect
• ensure behaviour policy is consistently applied to support success
• prioritise effectively - can't do it all!
• highly focused CPD i.e working memory
• use very consistent language
• use scripts and de-escalation techniques
• know our statutory rights and responsibilities
• communicate honestly and sensitively
• deliver difficult messages
• bend with the wind and laugh
• support each other
STAFF RESILIENCE
Nelson Mandela
“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the
world”
Moving to Outstanding 2019:
Best practice from recently Outstanding
Headteachers
When: Friday 14th June 2018
Where: Friends House, Euston Road, London, NW1 2BJ
Full details at:
https://ukheadsup.com/events/m2o2019/
